Game 12 Win 11-10 aka "a cycle for the ages"

Sometimes a change of scenery does a man some good. In this case, it did a man a real big solid. Crowley comes off the DL, moves Josh to the OF, and Josh goes on a tear of epic proportions. Get the f out of this man's way. Jump on his back and enjoy the ride boys, he may just take us to the promised land.

Highlights from guest blogger "The Table Setter"

-Declude raking the ball everywhere and hitting for the cycle (also rumored to be going after the s#x cycle in the bushes immediately following the game)
-Sweet’s leadoff triple in extra innings to set the stage for a game winning hit by TC
-Josh’s all-or-nothing sliding grab on a sinking liner to right center.
-Heroic effort on the bump by The Ballfielder
-DiStefano-Sully-Crupi relay to nail the guy at home and preserve the tie.
-Steady play in the left side of the diamond by Sully, and MBags, who settled in nicely after an early throwing miscue.
-Some nice scoops at 1B by LaBody
-The Ballfielder dropping in a single from the left side of the plate.
-Sweet continuing to swing the DeMarini with authority.
-Clutch hitting by Crowlz, MBags in the late innings.
-Bags disobeying doctor’s orders and hitting from the right side. As the theme song from the Natural ran through everyone’s head, expecting a memorable moment, instead the most anticlimactic worst-case scenario happens, as he grounds into an inning-ending DP.
-2-Hole having zero luck at the plate, getting robbed of 2 base hits (one liner, one foul ball that the fielder made a shoestring catch)

Game 11 Loss 23-18 aka "we found the old D-Bag Diamonds"

Will this storm be a direct hit and rain us out?

Game 10 Win 20-6 aka "First mercy of the year"

The Ringers/Demons came to play last night. Putting together a 9 player, patchwork lineup...everyone hit, even the Ball Fielder with a bum wrist go into the action.

Things looked bleak in the beginning, I walked stupid CJ to start the game and then 2-Hole lets one through the 5-Hole and we are down 1 zip before we know it. The story of the game was the defense of Josh Smith OF Ringers/Demons, kid held down left field all night...not an easy job with only 3 OF's. Made a few grabs in the OF to keep the score at 4-1 going into the 3rd.

The flood gates opened and EVERYONE hit. It's not like they made many errors or anything, we just hit line drives all over. The offense was led by two men, Two Hole and the man known as Table Setter. Table Setter (shown above with Amelyn DiStefano) was getting on base any way possible. Whether it was a single or double to left, or a walk., the Kid set the table all night. I don't know whether it is the clean crisp air of the 'burbs, or the fact that Eddie was thrown spitters, but the kid got on base. 2 Hole does his damage at the plate. I dont know if you guys have played with the 2 Hole, but if you have, take it all in...always goes down smooth. 2 Hole scored, I asked him "are you 4 for 4?" without hesitation he mutters with that Crupi shit eatin grin "5 for 5, 5 runs scored" and jogs right past me. Kid is a prick but he can hit.

My control has been average at best this year so I went back to the video tape and consulted with pitching coach Pete Brown. He mentioned I was following the pitch instead of bringing my head up. I took that and started throwing strikes like clock work. I guess that's why a guy like Pete is on the payroll.

Solid D by MBags, filling in for Vegas Joe at SS. Shaun Connors (aka Sean Connor to Bags' emails) made a great stab behind the dish. Smith really stole the show, so much so that he wanted to keep the streak going and played OF for the Demons along with 2 Hole for the second game. Right on cue, first ball hit in the game goes through Crupi's legs in CF. Kid looks like a genuis for trying to throw the game.

At any rate, bats didn't quiet down and we held them to 2 runs through the last 4 innings, finally getting the mercy rule in the 6th.

Ringers move to 7-3 which should put us 4th or 5th.

Euro Auto who apparently couldn't come up with a better name, looms on Thurs night.

Game 9 Win 13-6 "The thrill of victory...and the agony of defeat"

The Ringers win and the Celts lose. One team beginning their march to 5th place, and one team wrapping up an improbable run. I can almost see ol Danny Crupi drunk as a skunk flying down Rt 2 as the game was finihsing up, happy for the Ringers win, but saddened by the loss of his beloved C's. As he put it so eloquently "I'm outta here, this is bullshit".

I typically write down some notes when I get home from the game. Highlights, lowlights, whimsical moments...this time I couldnt figure out that the 18th was the 3rd Friday and thus couldnt park on a certain side of the road. One 50.00 ticket and a headache later, I learned my lesson. How I couldn't do that math I'll never know.

In any event, a solid Ringers win. Honey Fitz seems to be one of the better teams in the league and was 6-2 going into that game. The D got started right off the bat with MBags making a stab at 3rd. Connors had a surprise start at First and played a heck of a game, very steady. Sully played a great SS, and Noyes came up with a great play behind the dish to get us out of a jam in the 5th. Consistent hitting, Sweet getting back into the swing of things. Definately leaving a lot out but that happens when you slug beers back without eating until midnight.

Diamond's up next. This guy comes off the DL this week

Game 8 win 13-0 aka "I feel bad playing them"

The Sons of Monty took the field on a beautiful day in Medford last night hoping to start a winning streak and have a few laughs amongst friends. The opponent was "The Kid's Table", formerly known as the "Angles" or "Angels" depending on who is spelling it. The lefty took to the hill last night. Kid has a new lease on life, new trick to pitching, new way of catching pop ups, and a new way of dropping his pants at the field and not getting labled a sex offender.



The Kid's Table looked like a 60's Peace rally gone horribly wrong. At least get the same tye dye shirt or something, but sometimes a new name does ya right...in this case, they may have gotten worse.


Spent my time in back of the dish talkin to Billy. If you guys didn't know, he has been doing this for 17 years. He is a real hot ticket, let me tell ya. Said hello to TC twice as if he didnt even say the first one, was heckling Sully, labled Noyes the worst pitcher in the league, said Stevie Paz makes a mean Veal Parm, and mentioned that Insogna beat the Diamonds 28-8. All in all the strike zone was the size of the Pacific and Noyes pounded on it like Van Der Sloot in a Peruvian jail.



Noyes coasted through a few innings before giving up a base on balls to TC's buddy Michael Cera. "Dont ever walk Michael Cera again". Cera didnt do much damage on the basepaths and the Kid's Table was held in check.



Bats were alive, Sully got us up early on a 2 run bomb then almost murdered the pitcher later in the game. Danny 3/4, Crupi 3/4, MBags 3/3, McGrath 3/3, PRich 2/3, TC 2/3, Sully 2/3, Josh 0/3, Bags 0/1. Probably forgetting a few people...





Speaking of Bags, he was activated off the DL late on the game because he wanted to hit lefty. Bags has had a wrist injury that dates back to the early 90's. He gave it a valiant effort (seen here) but grounded to the pitcher. To quote Dear Leader of seeing the pic "I look like a dump", not sure which way to go with that but well said Bags. Not too much more to say. Bags put on his Ball Fielder cape as a defensive replacement in the 6th. No disrespect to any of our fielders, but when the game is on the line (13-0) and the bases are loaded (on purpose by the umpire) their just isn't anyone else that can turn a double play like the ball fielder. His glove is like a magnet and the ball is made of sweet steel. Tip of the cap to you ball fielder.




Tavern on the Square was fun last night. As seen here, I felt like I was in that elevator that we all started moshing in in Atlantic City. Trivia was at the Hill Tavern, so the Square was our "best chance" of getting a table...


Mercy Rule for the Ringers and it couldnt have come at a better time. Now that is a win we can get behind.

Game 7: Loss 14-10 aka "lets never speak of this game again"

Stevie Paz had all his pitches working tonight

we didnt play very well

we lost

Game 6 Win 15-14 aka "it was the biggest call of my career, and I kicked the sh!t out of it"

That quote could also be muttered by Phil...man he stunk


There was something in the air last night. Not sure if it was the possibility of 2 perfect games in the same night or that Crupi smelled a tad ripe when I picked him up from work, but something was out there.

The Sons of Sully had a late night tilt at ol Tufts Park against the red-headed stepchild of On the Hill Tavern. The comedic duo of Billy and Philly (might as well be Danny DeVito and Ahnold) were calling the game, which always leads to random outbursts and war stories of 17 years behind the dish.

Little did we know, 1500 miles away, two men would take the mound with a chance at history. One a journeyman trying to stick in the big leagues, and the other a journeyman trying to stick in the big leagues. One man lost his oerfect game with 2 outs in the bottom of the ninth on a bad call, one man lost his with no down in the first on 4 balls. Both men had their chance at history, and both men came up just a bit short.

(Circus music) Lets take it to the top of 1 where we had one of those innings that NOTHING goes right. 3 walks, some ground ball errors, a no-squeeze at first, falling fly balls, ground balls to the outfield on a slip and slide, etc etc. We've had those innings before. The true test of a team is how they come back when they are down. Well the Ringers passed the test.

We started slappin the ball around, that 3rd basemen may not want to show his face on that field for awhile. McGrath peppered the Right Center fielder with some moon shots, at the last minute he would always fall, reminded me of the icy patch from the Muppets. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LonzFUbMlY

They weren't very good fielders at all, usually you have a staple at SS or in the OF that makes plays, they had none. I can't imagine what they did in the B League...

We made them make plays they couldn't. Timely hits, and errors allowed us back into it. Unlike the skunk game, we stayed in it mentally and that made a huge difference.

Mr June showed up because...well...it's June, and that's what he does. Using his speed, getting on base, doin' the bull dance...all part of Mr June's game.

There are only a few players in the history of the game that get the green light on 3-0, one was Chipper in his hey-day, one was the Mick, and the other is obviously Noyes. A great 3-0 quote puts things into perspective.


"Wow, time flies. It was seven years ago yesterday that Chucky Carr uttered those immortal words, after what would be his final appearance with the Milwaukee Brewers.Chucky was quite amazing. He would hit 4 home runs a year, but he would roll up the short sleeves on his shirt as high as they would go, to show off his guns.On the day in question, Chucky was hitting .130, with an OPS of under .400, and needless to say he was given the "take" on a 3 and 0 count, promptly popping up to kill a rally. Asked about it by reporters after the game (i.e. about not taking the 3 and 0), Chucky replied "That ain't Chucky's game. Chucky hacks on 3 and 0".


Well that ain't Noyesies game and Noyesie hacks on 3-0, hacked it right into left field for a key hit.

Lefty battled though, never seen a guy walk 7 and get so many big outs. TC with a huge 3rd to Catcher double play with a nice block by Connors, big forceouts by Sweet, Sully, and TC. Great toss by McGrath to nail a guy at third, nicest throw from the OF I have seen in awhile. Tip of the cap

We have a chance to win in the bottom of the 7th. Noyes looked like CC out there throwing long into the game. "Richards, thanks for not taking me out in the 4th". That was your game my friend, you were either going to bare down and silence the critics or implode on a level that we have never seen before...I am glad you picked the first choice.

Bases full for the DiStefano in the last of the 7th. The kid had as much luck at the plate that day as Jim Joyce will have getting out of Detroit alive. Boonton grounds out to the pitcher and they get the force out. 2 down. The man needs some time alone...I will let Axl take it from here...

Sometimes I need some time...On my own
Sometimes I need some time....All alone
Everybody needs some time....On their own
Don't you know you need some time........All alone


Kid either called a ghost runner or tried out the dreaded Reverse GT but we wandered off somewhere and was alone with his thoughts...good thing time was called. Wow. Self admitted bonehead play, life goes on.

Lefty held them in the top of the 8th. Sully led off the bottom with a bomb that held up in the humid skies, dropped between the outfielders, winning run on third. Intentional Walks to TC and Josh brought up Danny, who I would have bet money was going to fly out to left to win the game. Popped up infield fly rule. That brought up LaserShow. McGrath was quoted earlier in the Medford newspaper...

"Josh is fine, He’s one of our teammates. It could have been me that hit into a double play. It happens to everybody, man. He’s had 60 at-bats. A couple years ago I had 60 at-bats, I was hitting .170, everyone was ready to kill me too. What happened? Laser show. Relax."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPvMOVFshyI

LaserShow always hits the ball hard and couldn't go opposite field to save his life. LaserShow casually walks up to the plate, takes one pitch, and belts the next into Right field.
Game.Set.Match

4-2 on the season. Relax.